1 Cor. 15:22 question

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The question is about the phrase:
As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

What does the Apostle Paul mean by this? We understand that in Adam we all died. But what does it mean that in Christ all will be made alive?

This is the the phrase in context:
1 Cor. 15:20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. [21] For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. [22] For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. [23] But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. [24] Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

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New Member

The question is about the phrase:
As in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

What does the Apostle Paul mean by this? We understand that in Adam we all died. But what does it mean that in Christ all will be made alive?

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Good question! This is a classic example of all not always meaning all! Who is Paul writing to? “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours” 1 Cor. 1:2 (ESV)

Paul is writing to believers, and in chapter 15 is writing to remind the brethren of the gospel “I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain” (15:1-2). Paul is writing for the encouragement of the believers.

What Paul is not teaching that all men will be universally saved. Rather, he is teaching that due to the imputed sin of Adam, all men die. But for those who have the imputed righteousness of Christ, they will be made alive. As MacArthur says:

“The two “alls” are alike only in the sense that they both apply to descendants. The second “all” applies only to believers (see Gal. 3:26, 29; 4:7; Eph. 3:6; cf. Acts 20:32; Titus 3:7) and does not imply universalism (the salvation of everyone without faith). Countless other passages clearly teach the eternal punishment of the unbelieving (e.g., Matt. 5:29; 10:28; 25:41, 46; Luke 16:23; 2 Thess. 1:9; Rev. 20:15).”

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This passage (1 Cor 15) is speaking of the resurrection and our resurrection bodies. The next verse tells you exactly what "in Christ all will be made alive" means:

"Christ the firstfruits, and then those who are Christ's at His coming."

Christ's resurrection is the first, and the promise of the further resurrection to come, which will include all those who are Christ's at his coming. So the "all" here means all who are "in Christ", just as the "all" who die in Adam are all who are "in Adam."

You might want to look at verses 42-49 of this same chapter for more explanation.

(I think this passage also gives us a clue as to how to interpret Romans 5:12ff)

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Actually, it does mean all! NOTICE that it is not talking about salvation but RESURRECTION:

(1 Cor 15:21-22) "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. {22} For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

Just as death came to ALL by Adam, the resurrection came to ALL by Christ.

Christ Himself confirms this - "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which ALL that are in the graves shall hear his voice, {29} And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29)

So then, ALL who are dead, both the righteous and the wicked, will be resurrected at the last day. Christ confirms this fact. As death came to ALL by Adam, the resurrection came to ALL by Christ.

But notice, that it is ONLY the resurrection and not salvation that came to all, for he says "they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation" - so then, ALL will live (that is be resurrected) but not all will be saved. Many will be resurrected but not to salvation - to damnation.

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Originally posted by SolaScriptura:
[QB] </font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />This is a classic example of all not always meaning all!

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Actually, it does mean all! NOTICE that it is not talking about salvation but RESURRECTION:
</font>[/QUOTE]No, the contrast is between all (universal) men who die and all (believers) who are made alive in Christ . No unbeliever can ever be said to be IN Christ, even in the ressurection of the dead.

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Chris Temple...well done! It is of God that we are "in Christ", but not of ourselves. I Cor 1:30 "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus...

The wicked may be resurrected physically along with the righteous, but they will still be spiritually dead in trespasses and in sins. Only the righteous will have been made alive "in Christ." Only the righteous will have been "born again", made alive in the Spirit, of God.

'All' in the KJV, and in the Greek, does not always mean 'all persons without exception.' It often means all of a certain group, sort, or category...in this case, all who are "in Christ."

In the Name of Him who is the Promised Seed of Abraham, to whom the promise of everlasting salvation was made,

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